In an effort to negotiate a peace deal between the ethnic-based insurgent groups of Myanmar and the Myanmar government, former Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga left for Bangkok on Monday to meet representatives of 16 such militant groups.
The Shillong Times highlighted that Zoramthanga, a former Mizo National Front (MNF) underground leader, said, “The militant groups are in the process of formulating their demands to the Myanmar government for continuation of parleys and wanted to learn about the Mizo Peace Accord signed between the Indian government and the erstwhile underground MNF in 1986.”
He said his meeting with the representatives of the 16 militant groups would mainly be held in Chiangmai and Bangkok in Thailand.
The former Mizoram chief minister said that the Myanmar insurgent groups have more confidence in the new civilian government than the military junta and was optimistic on the outcome of the negotiations.
The ethnic-based militant groups including Kachin, Karens, Chin, Wa, Arakan and Shan have been fighting for regional autonomy for years and a few groups recently signed a ceasefire agreement with the government in the presence of Zoramthanga and India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit K. Doval.
The MNF chief had been involved in the Myanmar peace process at the invitation of the ethnic-based militant groups and the Myanmar government.
